When must I do the check?

You must conduct right to rent checks before the residential tenancy agreement begins, for tenants aged 18 or over who will use the property as their main home.

Can my agent do the check?

An letting agent can carry out checks on your behalf if your agreement says so, but liability can remain with the landlord unless the agent accepts responsibility in writing.

Immigration

Right to rent checks for landlords in England

Who must be checked, before the tenancy starts, which documents to copy, and where to use GOV.UK's online checking service.

Last reviewed: 15 October 2026 · About 7 min read · England only

Your duty

Private landlords in England must check that adult occupants have the right to rent in the UK before the tenancy starts. The rules come from the Immigration Act 2014 and related regulations.

If you fail to make correct checks, you can face a civil penalty or criminal offence in serious cases. This is separate from tenancy deposit or safety rules but is equally mandatory.

How to check

GOV.UK sets out two main routes:

Online check — for tenants with a biometric residence card or permit, or immigration status you can verify with a share code via the View a tenant's right to rent service.
Manual document check — examine original acceptable documents from the GOV.UK lists and retain copies.

Follow the current document lists on right to rent document checks: user guide.

Follow-up checks

If a tenant has time-limited permission to stay, you must carry out a follow-up check before their permission expires. If right to rent is lost, you must report to the Home Office using the prescribed process.

Records

Keep copies of documents or online check results securely. Do not keep data longer than needed; follow data protection rules in your landlord guidance and privacy policy.

Frequently asked questions

When must I do the check?: You must conduct right to rent checks before the residential tenancy agreement begins, for tenants aged 18 or over who will use the property as their main home.
Can my agent do the check?: An letting agent can carry out checks on your behalf if your agreement says so, but liability can remain with the landlord unless the agent accepts responsibility in writing.

SignWise is a self-serve document preparation service operated by Ditra (established in Spain). SignWise is not a law firm, is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), does not provide legal advice, and does not carry on reserved legal activities under the Legal Services Act 2007 (section 12 and Schedule 2, paragraph 5). You prepare your document from your answers, review it carefully, and sign it yourself. SignWise is not responsible for legal outcomes. Seek independent legal advice if you are unsure whether a document suits your property or circumstances.

This guide is general information for landlords in England. It is not legal advice. Laws and official forms change; check the linked GOV.UK and legislation pages for the latest position.